According to Pro Football Talk, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is the driving force behind Miami’s interest in trading for Texans QB Deshaun Watson.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald confirms PFT’s report, saying they alluded to it in a previous report about someone high in the organization finding the idea of trading for Watson appealing.
He adds the Dolphins are primarily waiting for Houston’s price to come down to a point where a trade makes sense given the uncertainty around Watson’s legal situation.
A team source told Joe Schad that Ross does not force football decisions and he believes in incumbent Dolphins starting QB Tua Tagovailoa. Miami apparently sent out a mass email calling PFT’s report “inaccurate” but did not specifically rule out interest in Watson, per Jackson.
Trade speculation for Watson bubbled up over the weekend, with Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reporting the Dolphins have emerged as the “frontrunner” in trade talks with the Texans for Watson.
However, no trade involving Watson appears to be imminent, for now.
It should be mentioned that the serious accusations against Watson have yet to be resolved. He’s facing 22 civil cases right now and it remains to be seen how all of this plays out.
Watson has had an odd summer that has consisted of him serving as the Texans’ No. 4 quarterback and seeing time at running back in safety while sitting out a good majority of practice while his situation plays out.
The NFL hasn’t placed him on the commissioner’s exempt list, but their investigation into the allegations against him is ongoing as well.
Watson, 25, was taken in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft out of Clemson by the Texans. He signed a four-year, $13.854 million with the Texans that included a fifth-year option around $17.3 million for the 2021 season.
The Texans signed Watson to a four-year deal worth as much as $177 million heading into the 2020 season, paying him $39 million a year.
In 2020, Watson appeared in all 16 games for the Texans and completed 70.2 percent of his passes for 4,823 yards with 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed for 444 yards and three touchdowns.
We’ll have more on Watson as the news is available.
Looking for the latest NFL Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow NFL Trade Rumors on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NFL News and Rumors for all 32 teams!
